Apollo Tyres and Rubber Research Institute Receives Patent for Special Grade ENR

Scientists from Apollo Tyres worked closely with experts at the Rubber Research Institute of India (RRI) to invent a special grade of Epoxide Natural Rubber (ENR). This is a rubber compound for tyres that can be used as a substitute for highly expensive Solution- polymerised Styrene Butadiene Rubber (S-SBR) and received a patent from the government of India (Patent no. 287630).

The R&D Team at Apollo Tyres, which was led by Dr Arup K. Chandra, worked on a longstanding basis with scientists at RRI in order to produce this special grade of Epoxide Natural Rubber. This compound can not only replace Solution- polymerised Styrene Butadiene Rubber (S-SBR) when it comes to the production of high performance car tyres, but it is also more sustainable, especially in view of Apollo’s plans to focus on high performance tyres in the future.

Praising the efforts of Dr Chandra, and his team that was involved in the development of ENR, Daniele Lorenzetti, Chief Technology Officer, Apollo Tyres Ltd said Apollo Tyres has always taken the lead when it comes to environmental issues, sustainability and technology. He said the new product and the patent it secured is the outcome of Apollo’s commitment to use green and more environment friendly naturally occurring materials instead of synthetic rubber in its products. He went on to congratulate the entire team involved in the project, including the scientists from Rubber Research Institute of India.

Apollo has always acknowledged R&D, as well as the need to develop environment friendly raw materials as the twin pillars of its growth. This led the tyre manufacturer to collaborate with the Rubber Research Institute of India, in order to develop the special grade material. As of now, Apollo Tyres depends heavily on imported S-SBR for its high performance car tyres. This material is not only expensive, but is also not environment friendly.